|Qii|igrega.tiofi  of  United 


jW  Sth^  1909. 


H.  B.  529. 
S.  B.  254. 


CHARTER 


An  act  to  amend  chapter  forty-seven  of  the  private  laws  of  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-four  entitled  ^'An  act  to 
incorporate  the  members  of  the  Congregation  of  United  Brethren 
of  the  Town  of  Salem"  ratified  January  thirtj^-first,  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  seventy-four. 
The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  do  enact : 

That  chapter  forty-seven  of  the  private  laws  of  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  seventy-four  ratified  January  thirty-first,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-four,  incorporating  the  mem- 
bers of  the  CongTegation  of  United  Brethren  of  Salem  and  Vicin- 
ity, be  amended  as  follows.  Strike  out  all  of  said  act  after 
the  enacting  clause  and  insert  in  lieu  thereof  the  following: 


That  the  members  of  the  Congi-egation  of  the  United  Brethren, 
commonly  called  Moravians,  of  the  Town  of  Salem  and  its  vicini- 
ty, be  and  the  same  are  hereby  created  a  body  politic  and  cor- 
porate under  the  name  and  title  of  ^^The  Congregation  of  United 
Brethren  of  Salem  and  its  Vicinity." 


That  said  corporation  by  the  said  name  and  title  shall  have 
perpetual  succession  with  authority  to  adopt  a  common  seal, 
to  sue  and  be  sued,  to  plead  and  be  impleaded  in  all  courts  of 
law,  and  shall  have  power  and  authority  to  take,  purchase,  hold 
and  receive  to  them  and  their  successors  in  trust  for  and  to  the 
use  of  said  Congregation,  any  lands,  tenements,  property  of  what- 
soever nature  or  kind,  real,  personal  or  mixed,  which  are  now  or 
may  at  any  time  hereafter  become  the  property  of  said  cor- 
poration by  purchase,  gift,  grant,  bargain,  sale,  conveyance,  devise, 
bequest  or  otherwise  from  any  person  or  persons  whatsoever, 
and  the  same  to  grant,  bargain,  sell,  improve  or  dispose  of  for  the 
use  and  benefit  of  said  Congregation,  provided:  It  shall  not  be 
lawful  to  appropriate  or  use  any  of  the  principal  of  the  funds 
belonging  to  the  Congregation  for  any  purpose  except  for  re- 
building any  Church  belonging  to    said    Congregation  which 


SECTION  1. 


SECTION  II. 


2 


may  be  destroyed  by  fire  or  other  calamity,  nor  apply  any  of  the 
income  from  the  funds  or  other  property  of  said  Congregation  to 
other  than  charitable,  religious,  educational  or  other  like  pur- 
poses. 

SECTION  III. 

No  misnomer  of  said  corporation  or  its  successors  shall  defeat 
or  annul  any  gift,  grant,  devise  or  bequest  to  said  CongTegation, 
provided  the  intent  of  the  party  or  parties  shall  sufficiently  appear 
upon  the  face  of  the  gift,  grant,  will  or  other  writing  whereby  any 
estate  was  intended  to  pass  to  the  said  corporation. 

SECTION  IV. 

The  secular  and  business  affairs  of  said  corporation  shall  be 
'managed  by  a  Board  of  Trustees,  called  the  Central  Board  of 
Trustees,  who  shall  be  elected  by  the  Congregation  Council  under 
such  rules  and  regulations  as  it  may,  from  time  to  time,  adopt. 
The  Congregation  Council  shall  be  composed  of  all  male  members 
of  the  Congregation  in  good  standing  who  have  attained  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years  and  who  have  complied  with  its  rules  and 
regulations.  The  Central  Board  of  Trustees  shall  elect  one  of 
their  number  as  president  of  said  board,  who  shall  preside  at  all 
meetings  and  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  execute  all  deeds  and 
other  contracts  as  may  be  directed  by  the  said  board.  They  shall 
also  elect  a  secretary  and  treasurer  who  may  be  one  and  the  same 
^  person  and  may,  or  may  not  be  a  members  of  said  Board  of  Trus- 

tees. 

SECTION  V. 

The  spiritual  affairs  of  said  Congregation  shall  be  managed  by 
a  Board  of  Elders  called  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  which  shall 
be  composed  according  to  and  be  governed  by  such  rules  and 
regulations  as  may,  from  time  to  time,  be  adopted  by  the  Congre- 
gation Council. 

SECTION  VI. 

Should  the  members  of  either  of  the  above  Boards  for  any 
cause  fail  to  be  elected  as  provided,  this  corporation  shall  not  be 
thereby  dissolved,  but  the  out-going  members  shall  hold  over  until 
their  successors  are  elected. 

SECTION  VII. 

Whenever  it  is  deemed  expedient  to  divide  the  Congregation, 
it  shall  be  lawful  by  and  with  the  consent  of  a  majority  of  the 
members  present  of  the  Home  Church  first  obtained  ,in  regular 


3 


meeting  called  for  that  purpose,  for  them  so  to  do,  by  setting 
apart  as  a  separate  Church,  any  of  the  Churches  or  Chapels  that 
may  belong  to  and  form  part  of  the  said  corporation,  provided 
the  same  be  done  with  the  assent  of  a  majority  of  the  persons  en- 
titled to  vote  as  aforesaid  who  shall  belong  to  such  Cliurch  or 
Chapel  intended  to  be  set  apart  and  who  shall  attend  a  meeting 
to  consider  such  separation  after  at  least  ten  days  notice  previous- 
ly given  for  that  purpose  in  the  said  Church  or  Chapel,  during 
or  immediately  after  divine  service.  And  such  separation  so  as- 
sented to  by  the  Board  of  Provincial  Elders  and  the  Congregation 
of  United  Brethren  of  Salem  and  its  Vicinity  shall  take  effect 
according  to  the  terms  agreed  upon  between  the  parties,  and  the 
members  of  the  Congregation  of  such  Church  or  Chapel  so  sep- 
arated, shall  immediately  thereafter  cease  to  be  members  of  the 
corporation  of  the  Congregation  of  United  Brethren  of  Salem 
and  its  Vicinity  above  mentioned,  and  may,  if  they  so  desire,  pro- 
ceed to  incorporate  themselves  according  to  law  as  a  separate 
Congregation  of  the  Moravian  Church,  or  Unitas  Fratrum,  and 
Avhether  so  incorporated  or  not,  may  receive  from  the  corporation 
of  the  Congregation  of  United  Brethren  of  Salem  and  its  Vicin- 
ity any  grant,  conveyance  or  gift  of  any  chapel  or  other  real 
or  personal  estate  for  its  separate  use,  and  may  hold  and  enjoy 
the  same  accordingly,  as  fully  and  beneficially  as  any  such  re- 
ligious body  or  corporation  can  hold  and  enjoy  its  temporalities, 
howsoever  the  same  may  be  acquired. 

SECTION  VIII. 
No  enumeration  of  powers,  privileges  and  duties  herein  con- 
tained, shall  be  so  construed  as  to  exclude  any  unenumerated 
which  are  necessary  to  the  proper  fulfillment  of  the  design  and 
purpose  of  this  Act  and  not  inconsistent  with  its  express  provis- 
ions and  limitations. 

SECTION  2. 

This  Act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  ratification. 
In  the  General  Assembly  read  three  times  and  ratified,  this  the 
6th  day  of  February,  1909. 

W.  C.  NEWLAND, 

President  of  the  Senate. 
A.  W.  GRAHAM, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
Enrolled  and  read  by  Mrs.  A.  Syme.  ' 
Proof  read  by  M.  F.  Means. 

Examined  and  found  correct  by  N.  D.  Tomlin,  for  Committee. 


4 


STATE  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 
Office  of  Secretary  of  State. 

Raleigh,  Feb.  27,  1909. 

I,  J.  BRYAN  GRIMES,  Secretary  of  State  of  the  State  of 
North  Carolina  do  hereby  certify  the  foregoing'  to  be  a  true  copy 
from  the  records  of  this  office. 

IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
-  affixed  my  official  seal. 

Done  in  office  at  Raleigh  this  27th  day  of  Feb- 
[SEAL]         ruary  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1909. 

(Signed)       J.  BRYAN  GRIMES, 

Secretary  of  State. 

4 


RULES  AND  REGULATIONS 

OF 

'THE  CONGREGATION  OF  UNITED  BRETHREN 
OF  SALEM  AND  ITS  VICINITY-'' 

(As  amended  and  adopted  June  8,  1909.) 

1.  The  members  of  the  Congregation  of  United  Brethren,  com- 
monly called  Moravians,  of  Salem,  N.  C,  and  its  vicinity,  are  one 
body  politic  and  corporate,  under  the  name  and  title  of  ''The 
Congi-egation  of  United  Brethren  of  Salem  and  its  Vicinity." 

2.  Every  member  of  the  Congregation,  and  every  person  who 
shall  become  a  member  has  the  right  to  choose  for  himself  or 
herself  which  Church,  Chapel  or  Mission  of  the  Congregation  he 
or  she  may  wish  to  be  affiliated  with.  The  requisites  for  Church 
organization  shall  be  one  hundred  and  fifty  communicant  mem- 
bers in  good  standing,  with  regularly  elected  Elders  and  Trustees 
and  full  approval  of  the  Church  Council;  the  Home  Church,  Cal- 
vary Chvirch  and  Christ  Church  are  hereby  declared  regularly  con- 
stituted Churches  of  the  Congregation;  Fairview  and  East  Salem 
are  considered  as  Chapels  until  their  membership  entitles  them  to 
become  Churches,  when  they  can  be  so  constituted  by  formal  ac- 
tion of  the  Central  Boards  of  Elders  and  Trustees;  Elm  Street 
and  Centerville  shall  be  Missions  of  the  Congregation  until  other- 
wise constitued  by  action  of  Council.  The  Negro  Church  is  con- 
sidered a  charge  of  the  Congregation.  All  other  Churches,  Chapels 
or  Missions  of  the  Congregation  can  hereafter  be  accepted  only 
upon  a  two-thirds  vote  of  those  present  in  two  Congregation  Coun- 
cils at  regular  or  special  meetings.  * 

3.  The  Congregation  Council  is  composed  of  all  brethren,  com- 
municant members  of  the  Congregation,  who  have  attained  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  have  subscribed  to  the  rules  and 
regulations  of  the  Congregation,  and  have  paid  their  church  con- 

Congregation" — refers  to  the  aggregation  of  Churches,  Chap- 
els and  Missions  forming  ''The  Congregation  of  United  Bretli- 
ren  of  Salem  and  its  Vicinity." 

"Church" — refers  to  a  regularly  organized  and  accepted  compo- 
nent part  of  the  Congregation. 

"Central  Boards  of  Elders  and  Trustees" — the  governing  Boards 
of  the  Congregation. 

"Elders  and  Trustees" — the  governing  Boards  of  the  Churches. 


6 


tributions.  The  act  of  subscribing-  to  the  rules  can  take  place 
only  in  the  presence  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Council,  who  shall 
add  the  date  of  the  signature. 

4.  The  Congregation  Council  shall  once  in  three  years  elect 
a  Secretary  who  shall  keep  a  true  and  accurate  record  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Council,  which  record  shall  be  carefully  pre- 
served in  the  office  of  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees. 

5.  The  sisters  of  the  Congregation  may  be  present  at  the  meet- 
ings of  the  Council  and  shall  participate  in  its  proceedings  as  far 
as  the  terms  of  the  Charter  permit. 

6.  The  Pastor  of  the  Congregation,  or  if  there  be  no  Pastor 
of  the  Congregation,  the  Chairman  of  the  Central  Board  of  El- 
ders, shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  Council.  In  his  absence, 
the  Congregation  Council  shall  elect  a  Chairman  pro  tern.  All 
meetings  shall  be  held  in  the  Home  Church  and  shall  be  an- 
nounced from  the  pulpit  or  desk  of  each  of  the  Churches 
on  an  occasion  of  public  worship,  and  in  such  other  manner  as 
the  Central  Board  of  Elders  may  determine.  It  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  Congregation  Council  to  elect  the  delegates  to  the  Provin- 
cial Synod  and  the  Provincial  Conference ;  the  elective  members  of 
the  Central  Board  of  Elders,  the  elective  members  of  the  Central 
Board  of  Trustees  and  of  the  School  Board,  and  all  other  officers 
and  boards  of  the  Congregation  not  otherwise  provided  for. 

7.  The  Central  Board  of  Elders  shall  have  authority  at  any 
time  to  convene  a  special  meeting  of  the  Congregation  Council. 
Upon  application  of  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees,  or  ten  mem- 
bers of  the  Council,  they  shall  likewise  call  a  special  meeting.  Fif- 
teen duly  qualified  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  at  any 
meeting  of  Council. 

8.  All  standing  officers  elected  by  the  Congregation  Council 
shall  continue  in  office  until  their  successors  are  elected.  All  elec- 
tions shall  be  by  ballot,  and  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  shall  be 
necessary  to  a  choice. 

9.  All  matters  that  relate  to  the  temporal  or  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  the  Congregation  may  be  discussed  in  the  Council  at  the 
motion  of  any  member,  or  by  request  of  the  Central  Board  of 
Elders  or  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees. 

10.  The  annual  report  of  the  Central  Board  of  Elders,  the  an- 
nual report  of  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees  including  the  finan- 
cial statement  in  which  the  principal  fund  and  income  accounts 


7 


are  clearly  stated,  and  the  annual  report  of  the  School  Board 
shall  all  be  submitted  in  writing  to  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Congregation  Council  which  shall  be  held  on  the  second  Tues- 
day in  October  of  each  year.  The  fiscal  period  shall  end  on  the 
30th  day  of  June  of  each  year. 

11.  Each  Church  of  the  Congregation  shall  have  its  own  an- 
nual meeting  and  its  own  Elders  and  Trustees  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided, 

12.  Whenever  any  Church  of  the  Congregation  other  than  the 
Home  Church  shall  desire  to  become  a  full  self  governing  Con- 
gregation of  the  Southern  Province  of  the  Moravian  Church  it 
shall  notify  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  and  the  Central  Board 
of  Trustees  of  its  desire  to  become  independent,  and  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  Central  Boards  to  submit  the  request  to  a  Con- 
gregation Council  with  such  recommendations  as  they  may  de- 
termine are  right  and  proper,  and  if  Council  shall  so  direct  by 
a  majority  of  those  present,  the  Central  Boards  shall  report  the 
matter  to  the  Provincial  Elders'  Conference  requesting  that  said 
Church  shall  be  constituted  an  independent  CongTegation,  and 
the  representation  of  such  Church  on  the  Central  Boards  shall 
thereby  terminate.  > 

THE  PASTORATE  OF  THE  CONGREGATION. 

1.  The  Central  Board  of  Elders  and  the  Central  Board  of  Trus- 
tees in  their  joint  discretion  may  request  of  the  Provincial  Elders' 
Conference  the  appointment  of  a  Pastor  for  ^'The  Congregation 
of  United  Brethren  of  Salem  and  its  Vicinity"  who  shall  have 
general  oversight  of  the  entire  work  of  the  Congi-egation,  and  who 
shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  and 
of  the  Congregation  Council. 

2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Pastor  of  the  Congregation  to 
prepare  annually  the  Memorabilia  of  the  Congregation  and  af- 
ter it  has  been  approved  by  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  it  shall 
be  read  before  the  Congregation,  according  to  established  custom, 
in  the  Home  Church  on  New  Year's  Eve,  and  afterwards  filed  in 
the  archives  of  the  Congregation.  If  there  be  no  Pastor  of  the 
Congregation  the  Chairman  of  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  shall 
prepare  the  Memorabilia. 

3.  The  Central  Board  of  Elders  and  the    Central    Board  of 


8 


Trustees  in  their  joint  discretion  may  request  of  the  Provincial 
Elders'  Conference  the  appointment  of  a  Pastor  for  any  or  such 
Churches,  Chapels  or  Missions  of  the  Congregation  as  in  their  judg- 
ment may  be  necessary. 

4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Pastors  in  the  service  of  the 
Congregation  to  meet  together  not  less  than  once  in  each  month  as 
they  may  determine  upon  for  the  purpose  of  considering  subjects 
of  mutual  interest,  and  the  advancement  of  the  work. 

THE  CENTRAL  BOARDS  OF  THE  CONGREGATION. 

1.    The  Central  Board  of  Elders: 

a.  The  Central  Board  of  Elders  shall  be  composed  of  the  Pas- 
tor of  the  Congregation,  the  duly  appointed  Pastors  of  the 
Churches,  Chapels  and  Missions  of  the  Congregation,  the  Presi- 
dent of  Salem  Academy  and  College,  one  brother  elected  by  Coun- 
cil from  and  upon  the  recommendation  of  each  Church  entitled  to 
representation,  and  three  additional  brethren  elected  by  Council 
from  the  membership  of  the  Home  Church.  A  Church  of  the  Con- 
gregation shall  be  entitled  to  its  elected  representative  provided  it 
shall  have  at  least  150  communicant  members  in  good  standing,  and 
shall  have  paid  to  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  year 
preceding  his  -election  its  full  part  of  the  expenses  of  the  Congre- 
gation ,as  apportioned  by  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees.  If  a 
Church  fails  to  pay  its  apportionment  for  any  year,  the  $eat  of 
its  elected  representative  shall  become  vacant  and  so  remain  un- 
til such  time  as  the  annual  report  of  the  Central  Board 
of  Trustees  shows  that  the  said  Church  has  paid  its  past 
due  apportionments,  when  the  elected  member  shall  be  re- 
seated or  his  successor  elected.  The  elected  members  shall 
be  not  less  than  thirty  years  of  age,  and  must  have  been  members 
of  the  Congregation  not  less  than  five  years.  They  shall  serve 
for  three  years  and  shall  be  so  elected  that  as  nearly  as  possible 
one-third  of  them  shall  retire  each  year.  The  election  shall  take 
place  at  the  annual  meeting  of  Council  on  the  second  Tuesday  in 
October  of  each  year,  and  shall  be  the  first  of  the  elections  at 
that  Council  meeting.  No  one  shall  be  a  member  of  the  Central 
Board  of  Elders  and  of  any  other  board  of  the  Congregation  at 
the  same  time,  nor  shall  any  member  be  elected  for  more  than 
two  consecutive  terms,  although  he  may  be  re-elected  after  an 
intermission  of  one  year. 


9 


b.  At  the  meetings  of  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  the  Pas- 
tor of  the  Congregation  shall  preside,  or  if  there  be  no  Pastor  of 
the  Congregation,  the  members  of  the  Central  Board  of  Elders 
shall  elect  a  presiding  officer  who  shall  be  a  minister.  In  case  of 
the  absence  of  the  presiding  officer,  the  members  of  the  Board  shall 
appoint  a  Chairman  pro  tern.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Cen- 
tral Board  of  Elders  after  the  annual  election,  the  members  of 
the  Board  shall  elect  from  their  number  a  Secretary.  Five  mem- 
bers shall  constitute  a  quorum  at  any  meeting.  Due  notice  of  all 
meetings  shall  be  given  by  the  Chairman  or  Secretary  to  each 
member. 

c.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Central  Board  of  Elders: 

1.  To  watch  over  the  spiritual  and  moral  well-being  of  the 
Congregation  as  a  whole. 

2.  To  regulate  the  various  meetings  for  worship. 

3.  To  determine  for  what  purposes  the  churches  and  chapels 
may  be  used. 

4.  To  maintain  the  proper  exercise  of  church  discipline. 

5.  To  ratify  applications  for  church  membership  if  approved 
by  the  Elders  of  the  Churches,  to  decide  upon  dismissals  from  the 
same,  and  also  upon  names  of  persons  to  be  dropped  or  to  be 
excluded  from  the  Congregation. 

6.  To  appoint  the  Superintendents  of  the  Sunday  Schools  con- 
nected with  the  Congregation. 

7.  To  hold  one  joint  conference  annually  with  the  Elders  of 
each  Church  of  the  Congregation. 

8.  To  have  general  oversight  of  the  music  used  in  connection 
with  the  services  of  the  Churches  of  the  Congregation. 

9.  In  general  to  serve  as  a  Board  of  Appeal  for  the  entire 
Congregation,  to  carry  out  in  the  Congregation  as  a  whole  the 
principles  and  rules  enacted  by  the  proper  authorities  of  the 
Church  of  the  United  Brethren. 

d.  Any  vacancy  among  the  elective  officers  of  the  Central 
Board  of  Elders  shall  be  filled  by  the  remainder  of  the  Board 
until  the  next  annual  election. 


10 


2.    The  Central  Board  of  Trustees: 

a.  The  Central  Board  of  Trustees  shall  be  composed  of  one 
brother  elected  by  Council  from  and  upon  the  recommendation 
of  each  Church  entitled  to  representation,  and  six  brethren  elected 
by  Council  from  the  membership  of  the  Home  Church.  A  Church 
shall  be  entitled  to  its  elected  representative  provided  it  shall 
have  at  least  150  communicant  members  in  good  standing,  and 
shall  have  paid  to  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  year 
preceding  his  election  its  full  part  of  the  expenses  of  the  Con- 
gregation as  apportioned  by  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees.  If 
a  church  fails  to  pay  its  apportionment  for  any  year,  the  seat 
of  its  elected  representative  shall  become  vacant  and  so  remain 
until  such  time  as  the  annual  report  of  the  Central  Board 
of  Trustees  shows  that  the  said  Church  has  paid  its  past 
due  apportionments,  when  the  elected  member  shall  be  re- 
seated or  his  successor  elected.  Members  of  the  Central 
Board  of  Trustees  shall  be  not  less  than  twenty-five  years 
of  age,  and  shall  have  been  communicant  members  of  the 
Congregation  for  not  less  than  three  years.  They  shall  serve 
for  three  years,  and  shall  be  so  elected  that  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible one-third  of  them  shall  retire  each  year.  The  election 
shall  take  place  at  the  annual  meeting  of  Council  on  the  second 
Tuesday  in  October  of  each  year.  No  one  shall  be  a  member 
of  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees  and  of  any  other  board  of  the 
CongTegation  at  the  same  time,  nor  shall  any  member  be  elected 
for  more  than  two  consecutive  terms,  although  he  may  be  re- 
elected after  an  intermission  of  one  year.  At  the  first  meeting 
after  each  annual  election  the  Board  shall  organize  by  electing 
a  President  and  a  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  which  latter  may  or 
may  not  be  a  member  of  the  Board,  and  who  shall  act  also  as 
Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  School  Board.  In  case  of  the 
absence  of  the  presiding  officer,  the  members  shall  appoint  a 
President  pro  tern.  Five  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  at 
any  meeting.  Due  notice  of  all  meetings  shall  be  given  by  the 
President  or  Secretary  to  each  member  of  the  Board. 

b.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees: 

1.  To  manage  and  direct  all  secular  and  financial  affairs  of 
the  Congregation  and  the  various  funds  entrusted  to  its  care. 

2.  To  determine  and  pay  or  cause  to  be  paid  the  salaries  of 
the  Pastor  of  the  Congregation,  the  Pastors  of  the  several  Church- 


11 


es,  the  assistants,  and  other  officers  and  servants  of  the  Con- 
gregation. 

3.  To  determine  at  the  end  of  each  fiscal  year  as  nearly  as 
possible  the  expenses  of  the  Congregation  for  the  ensuing  year, 
and  apportion  to  each  Church,  Chapel  and  Mission  such  part  of 
the  total  expenses  as  in  the  judgment  of  the  Board  is  both  just 
and  equitable,  and  to  notify  in  writing  the  Trustees  of  each  Church 
of  the  Congregation  the  amount  of  expenses  apportioned  to  it. 

The  apportionment  of  the  expenses  of  the  Congregation  shall 
be  made  with  the  end  in  view  that  each  Church,  Chapel  and  Mission 
shall  become  self-supporting  just  as  soon  as  possible. 

The  Central  Board  of  Trustees,  with  the  co-operation  of  the 
Trustees  and  Pastors  of  the  several  Churches  of  the  Congregation, 
should  request  some  contribution  from  each  communicant,  however 
young,  in  order  that  in  this  way  the  habit  of  giving  for  Church 
purposes  may  be  formed  in  the  most  susceptible  years  of  the 
Christian  life. 

4.  To  determine  the  amount  of  annual  contributions  to  be  paid 
by  non-resident  communicant  members,  and  non-communicant, 
and  non-communicant  birthright  members  over  21  years  of  age 
who  desire  to  maintain  their  connection  with  the  Congregation. 

5.  To  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid,  the  expenses  necessarily  in- 
curred by  the  Board  of  Elders  and  the  School  Board  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  legitimate  spheres  of  duty. 

6.  To  apply  the  income  from  the  funds  and  property  of  the 
Congregation  as  follows: 

1st.  To  maintain  and  keep  in  good  repair  the  Sisters'  House, 
the  Widows'  House,  the  Archive  Building,  the  Boys'  School  Build- 
ing, the  Congregation  offices,  the  Colored  Church  and  all  other 
common  property  of  the  Congregation,  and  to  keep  in  proper  or- 
der the  Graveyard,  the  Avenue  and  the  Salem  Square. 

2d.    To  pay  the  salary  of  the  Pastor  of  the  Congregation. 

3rd.  To  pay  such  general  expenses  of  the  Congregation,  if 
there  be  any,  as  are  not  covered  by  the  amounts  apportioned  to 
the  several  Churches. 

4th.  Any  excess  of  income  remaining  after  the  above  expenses 
have  been  paid  shall  be  expended  only  by  order  of  Congregation 
Council. 


12 


7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Central  Board 
of  Trustees  to  keep  a  Membership  Book,"  in  duplicate,  the  form 
of  which  shall  have  been  approved  by  the  Central  Board  of  El- 
ders, and  to  enter  therein  all  reports  made  to  him  by  the  Secre- 
taries of  the  Trustees  of  the  several  Churches;  one  co'py  of  this 
book  shall  be  filed  with  the  Pastor  of  the  Congregation  or  the 
Chairman  of  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  and  the  other  copy  shall 
be  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees. 

c.  Any  vacancy  occurring  in  the  Board  shall  be  filled  by  the 
remaining  members  until  the  next  annual  election. 

3.  The  Joint  Action  of  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  and  the 
Central  Board  of  Trustees. 

The  Central  Board  of  Elders  and  the  Central  Board  of  Trus- 
tees have  each  their  separate  sphere  of  activity,  and  are  not  to 
interfere  Avith  one  another  in  the  performance  of  their  peculiar 
duties;  one  having  charge  of  the  spiritual,  and  the  other  of  the 
temporal  concerns  of  the  Congregation;  yet  it  is  desirable  that 
they  should  be  on  terms  of  friendly  intercourse,  and  confer  to- 
gether in  such  cases  as  may  arise  where  each  Board  is  interested, 
or  where  such  mutual  conference  may  result  for  the  manifest 
good  of  the  Congregation.  In  cases  of  disagreement  between 
these*  two  Boards  a  joint  meeting  of  both  may  be  had  and  the 
subject  disposed  of  by  a  majority  of  votes. 

4.  The  School  Board. 

a.  The  School  Board  shall  be  composed  of  the  Pastor  of 
the  Congregation,  or  the  Chairman  of  the  Central  Board  of  El- 
ders, one  brother  elected  by  Council  from  and  upon  the  recom- 
mendation of  each  of  the  Churches  of  the  Congregation  enti- 
tled to  representation,  and  two  lay  brethren  and  one  minister 
elected  from  the  membership  of  the  Congregation  at  large.  A 
Church  of  the  Congregation  shall  be  entitled  to  its  elected  represen- 
tative provided  it  shall  have  at  least  150  communicant  members  in 
good  standing  and  shall  have  paid  to  the  Central  Board  of  Trus- 
tees for  the  year  preceding  his  election  its  full  part  of  the  expenses 
of  the  Congregation  as  apportioned  by  the  Central  Board  of 
Trustees.  If  a  Church  fails  to  pay  its  apportionment  for  any 
year,  the  seat  of  its  elected  representative  shall  become  vacant 
and  so  remain  until  such  time  as  the  annual  report  of  the 
Central  Board  of    Trustees    shows    that    the    said    Church  has 


13 


paid  its  past  due  apportionments,  when  the  elected  meml)ei' 
shall  be  reseated  or  his  successor  elected.  Members  of  the 
School  Board  shall  serve  for  three  years,  and  shall  be 
elected  at  the  annual  meeting  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  Oc- 
tober of  each  year.  At  the  election  in  October  1909  as  nearly 
as  possibl-e  one-third  shall  be  elected  for  one  year,  one-third  for 
two  years,  and  one-third  for  three  years.  No  one  shall  be  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board  and  of  any  other  Board  of  the  Congre- 
gation at  the  same  time,  nor  shall  any  member  be  elected  for 
more  than  two  consecutive  terms,  although  he  may  be  re-elected 
after  an  intermission  of  one  year. 

b.  The  Board  shall  have  the  direction  and  management  of  the 
Congregation  school  for  boys.  The  Pastor  of  the  Congregation 
or  Chairman  of  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  shall  be  President 
of  the  Board,  In  case  of » the  absence  of  the  presiding  officer, 
the  Board  shall  appoint  a  President  pro  tern.  Four  members 
shall  constitute  a  quorum  at  any  meeting.  Due  notice  of  all  meet- 
ings shall  be  given  by  the  President  or  Secretary  to  each  mem- 
ber of  the  Board, 

c.  Any  vacancy  occurring  in  the  Board  shall  be  filled  by  the 
remaining  members  until  the  next  annual  election. 

d.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board: 

1,  To  appoint  or  elect  a  Principal  of  the  School  who  shall 
have  charge  of  the  School,  subject  to  the  direction  of  the  School 
Board. 

2,  To  appoint  a  Head  Teacher,  or  teachers,  and  assistant 
teachers. 

3,  To  fix  the  salaries  of  the  Principal  and  teachers,  and  pro- 
vide for  the  proper  maintenance  of  the  school,  and  to  regulate 
the  price  of  tuition  and  to  collect  the  same.  In  doing  so,  it  shall 
require  not  less  than  $1.50  per  month  from  each  Congregation  pu- 
pil in  the  lower  classes,  and  not  less  than  $2.00  per  month  from 
each  Congregation  pupil  in  the  Junior  and  Senior  classes,  provided 
that '  any  pupil  whose  tuition  for  preceding  years  has  not  been 
paid,  shall  be  debarred  from  the  privilege  of  attending  this  school. 

4,  It  shall  not,  however,  incur  any  extraordinary  expenses 
without  previous  consultation  with  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees. 


14 


5.  To  make  and  enforce  rules  and  regulations  for  the  proper 
government  of  the  School. 

e.  All  boys  eight  years  of  age,  or  upwards,  shall  be  admitted 
to  this  School,  whose  parents,  or  one  of  them,  are  members  of 
this  Congregation,  and  w-ho  shall  be  willing  to  submit  to  the  rules 
and  regulations  of  the  School.  The  sons  of  others,  not  members, 
may  be  admitted  on  such  terms  and  under  such  rules  and  regula- 
tions as  the  School  Board  may  find  expedient. 

ELDERS  AND  TRUSTEES  OF  THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE 
CONGREGATION. 

a.  Each  Church  of  the  Congregation  shall  have  its  own  Elders 
composed  of  its  Pastor,  who  shall  be  ex-officio  Chairman,  and  three 
or  more  members  to  be  elected  by  ballot  at  its  annual  meeting; 
they  shall  serve  for  three  years  and  shall  be  so  elected  that  as 
nearly  as  possible  one-third  of  them  shall  retire  each  year.  No 
member  shall  be  elected  for  more  than  two  consecutive  terms  al- 
though he  may  be  re-elected  after  an  intermission  of  one  year.  At 
their  first  meeting  they  shall  elect  from  their  number  a  Secretary. 

b.  Each  Church  of  the  Congregation  shall  have  its  own 
Trustees  composed  of  three  or  more  members  to  be  elected 
by  ballot  at  its  annual  meeting;  they  shall  serve  for  three 
years  and  shall  be  so  elected  that  as  nearly  as  possible  on^- 
third  of  them  shall  retire  each  year.  No  member  shall  be 
elected  for  more  than  two  consecutive  terms  although  he  may 
be  re-elected  after  an  intermission  of  one  year.  At  their  first 
meeting  they  shall  organize  by  electing  from  their  number  a 
President  and  a  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  which  latter  may  or 
may  not  be  a  Trustee. 

The  Pastor  of  each  Church  shall  be  ex-officio  a  consulting  mem- 
ber of  its  Trustees. 

c.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Elders  under  the  direction  of 
the  Central  Board  of  Elders: 

1st.  To  watch  over  the  spiritual  and  moral  Avell-being  of  its 
jDarticular  Church  of  the  Congregation. 

2nd.    To  regulate  the  various  meetings  for  worship. 

3rd.    To  determine  for  Avhat  purpose  the  Church  may  be  used. 

4th.    To  maintain  the  proper  exercise  of  Church  discipline. 


5tli.  To  assist  the  Pastor  in  the  administration  of  Church 
music. 

6th.  To  present  to  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  with  recom- 
mendation in  regard  thereto,  the  names  of  all  persons  presenting- 
themselves  for  membership,  and  the  names  of  members  to  be  trans- 
ferred to  other  Churches  of  the  Congregation  or  to  other  Churches, 
also  the  names  of  members  to  be  suspended,  dropped  or  excluded. 

7th.  To  recommend  a  suitable  person  to  be  Superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  School. 

8th.  To  appoint  the  musicians,  sextons,  and  others  engaged 
in  the  care  of  the  Church,  and  order  regular  or  special  collections. 

9th.  In  general  to  carry  out  in  the  Church  the  principles  and 
rules  enacted  by  the  synods  and  conferences  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren. 

d.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Trustees  with  the  concurrence 
of  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees: 

1st.  To  fix  the  compensation  of  the  musicians,  sextons  and 
others  engaged  in  the  care  of  the  Church ;  and  to  have  charge  of 
and  maintain  the  property  of  the  Congregation  entrusted  to  its 
care. 

2nd.  To  determine  the  best  method  of  raising  among  the  mem- 
bers of  each  Church  the  amount  of  congregational  expenses  ap- 
portioned to  it  by  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees,  and  to  collect 
and  pay  over  the  same  to  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees. 

3rd.  To  furnish  to  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees  wdthin  thirty 
days  after  the  close  of  each  fiscal  year  a  statement  of  the  finan- 
cial affairs  of  its  Church. 

4th.  To  furnish  to  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees  such  esti- 
mates of  expenses  in  advance  for  the  ensuing  fiscal  year  as  its 
needs  may  require. 

5th.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Trus- 
tees of  each  Church  of  the  Congregation  to  keep  a  full  rec- 
ord of  the  membership  and  all  changes  therein  or  thereto,  in  a 
book  specially  provided  by  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  and  to 
report  all  additions  or  changes  at  least  once  a  year  to  the  Secre- 
try  of  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees. 


16 


GENERAL  PROVISIONS. 

1.  All  resolutions  of  the  Congi-egational  Council,  and  the  Cen- 
tral Boards  of  Elders  and  Trustees,  not  referring  merely  to  their 
current  business,  but  containing"  permanent  regulations,  shall  be 
submitted  for  approbation  to  the  Provincial  Elders'  Conference, 
which  shall,  however,  be  at  liberty  to  withhold  its  sanction  only 
in  case  such  resolutions,  in  the  opinion  of  said  Conference,  are 
at  variance  with  the  principles  and  constitution  of  the  Church. 

2.  Persons  desiring  to  become  communicant  members  of  the 
Congi-egation  will  receive  such  catechetical  instruction  as  their 
circumstances  may  require.  When  they  have  been  thus  pre- 
pared for  Church  membership  their  names  shall  be  submitted  to 
the  Elders  of  the  Church  concerned  who  shall  have  power  to  grant 
or  refuse  their  application  to  be  baptised  or  confirmed;  and  shall 
then  be  presented  to  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  for  ratification. 
All  adults  seeking  admission  into  our  communion  shall,  before 
being  received,  be  furnished  by  the  Elders  Avith  a  copy  of  and  full 
information  as  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of^the  Congregation. 

3-a.  Persons  who  have  previously  been  full  members  of  an- 
other denomination,  shall  have  their  certificate  of  dismissal  from 
their  former  Church,  or,  in  case  they  cannot  obtain  it,  the 
proper  evidence  of  their  previous  membership,  laid  before  the 
Elders.  If  their  request  to  become  members  of  this  Congregation 
has  been  granted  by  the  Central  Board  of  Elders,  they  shall 
be  received  at  a  communion  service,  with  the  right  hand  of  fel- 
lowship. Their  children,  under  twenty-one  years  of  age,  if  not 
objectionable  in  character,  or  not  communicants  of  some  other 
denomination,  shall  be  received  into  the  privileges  of  non-com- 
municants in  the  Congregation. 

b.  In  all  cases  where  one  parent  of  a  family,  only,  is  received 
into  our  communion,  the  question  as  to  whether  the  children,  if 
there  be  any,  are  to  be  enrolled  as  non-communicant  members  of 
the  Congregation,  or  whether  they  adhere  to  the  other  parent, 
shall  be  definitely  understood  at  the  time. 

4.  Members  of  other  Moravian  congregations,  having  been 
regularly  transferred  from  their  Churches,  shall,  after  having  been 
accepted  by  the  Central  Board  of  Elders,  have  their  names  an- 
nounced at  a  communion  service  as  being  henceforth  members  of 
this  Congregation. 


17 


5.  Members  are  expected  to  bring  their  infant  children  to  be 
baptized  as  soon  after  their  birth  as  convenient.  Such  children 
become  incorporated,  by  the  sacrament  of  Baptism,  into  the  vis- 
ible Church  of  Christ,  and  are  to  be  regarded  as  non-communi- 
cant members  of  the  Church  until  they  have  been  confirmed,  un- 
less they  should  forfeit  these  privileges  by  their  misconduct  in 
riper  years  or  by  their  refusal  to  pay  contributions  as  appor- 
tioned to  them  by  the  Trustees. 

6.  The  Lovefeast  regulations  are  as  follows: 

a.  Lovefeasts  are  private  meetings,  intended  only  for  those 
whose  names  are  found  on  our  Church  catalogue,  or  are  members 
of  other  Moravian  Churches. 

b.  Communicants  of  sister  denominations,  and  such  only,  may 
be  invited  to  these  occasions. 

c.  In  the  case  of  a  married  couple,  of  which  only  one  is  a 
member  of  the  Church,  the  other  shall  likewise  have  the  priv- 
ilege of  attending  the  lovefeasts. 

d.  Invitations  to  the  lovefeast  must  be  issued  through  the 
pastors,  and  according  to  their  best  judgment. 

e.  A  lovefeast  shall  annually  be  held  in  the  Home  Church  for 
all  those  brethren  and  sisters  who  are  regularly  engaged  in  the 
service  of  the  Congregation,  in  all  its  Churches,  Chapels  and 
Missions. 

f.  In  the  case  of  children  in  the  Sunday  Schools  and  pupils 
in  the  Salem  Academy  and  College  existing  customs  of  admission 
to  lovefeasts  shall  be  observed,  as  far  as  the  Central  Board  of 
Elders  shall  find  them  practicable  and  desirable. 

g.  The  following  lovefeasts  and  services  held  in  the  Home 
Church  shall  be  recognized  as  the  union  occasions  of  the  mem- 
bership of  all  the  Churches  of  the  Congregation:  The  festi- 
val of  the  Thirteenth  of  August;  the  Great  Sabbath  lovefeast; 
the  early  service  of  Easter  morning;  the  services  of  Christmas 
Eve;  the  services  of  New  Year's  Eve. 

7.  The  regulations  for  Funerals  are  as  follows: 

a.  The  chief  sexton  of  each  Church  shall  make  a  list  of  the 
male  members  of  his  Church  up  to  sixty-five  years  of  age  from 


18 


which  at  the  request  of  the  family  of  the  deceased  he  will  select 
those  who  shall  assist,  in  their  due  order,  in  carrying  the  mor- 
tal remains  of  their  brethren  and  sisters  to  the  church  and 
graveyard. 

b.  Interments  in  the  graveyard  can  be  made  only  on  permits 
to  be  issued  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Central  Board  of  Trus- 
tees upon  the  written  or  printed  statement  from  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Trustees  of  the  Church  to  which  the  deceased  belonged, 
that  all  contributions  then  due  had  been  fully  paid,  said  state- 
ment to  be  filed  with  the  Secretary  of  the  Central  Board  of  Trus- 
tees as  the  basis  of  the  permit.  Interments  are  restricted  to  the 
following  classes:  Members  of  this  Congregation  whose  annual 
contributions  have  been  paid,  and  their  children  under  21  years  of 
age,  whose  names  are  on  the  Church  books,  and  who  have  not  con- 
nected themselves  with  some  other  church;  non-communicant  hus- 
bands or  wives  of  active  members,  who  were  of  good  moral  char- 
acter; members  of  other  Moravian  congregations,  who  may  die 
while  visiting  here,  or  who  were  formerly  connected  with  this 
Congregation;  teachers  and  boarders  who  may  die  during  their 
term  of  residence  in  Salem  Academy  and  College;  non-communi- 
cant, non-communicant  birth-right  and  regularly  contributing 
members,  who,  after  arriving  at  21  years  of  age  have  paid  their 
Church  contributions  as  apportioned  by  the  Trustees.  Excep- 
tional cases  may  be  decided  by  the  Central  Boards  of  Elders  and 
Trustees. 

In  all  cases,  interments  in  the  graveyard  must  be  refused  where 
members  have  left  the  Church,  or  have  been  excluded,  or  where 
arrears  in  current  Church  account  have  not  been  provided  for, 
and  where  no  suitable  guarantee  is  given  that  a  tombstone  will 
be  laid,  and  other  requirements  met. 

c.  Fifteen  dollars  shall  be  paid  for  the  privilege  of  burial  in 
the  graveyard,  in  cases  where  the  person  was  husband  or  wife  of 
a  communicant  member.  This  sum  shall  be  for  grave  space  only, 
and  additional  to  the  other  expenses  which  are  customary  in  the 
case  of  members.  An  additional  deposit  of  ten  dollars  shall  be 
made  at  the  same  time,  with  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees,  as  a 
guarantee  that  a  tombstone  will  be  furnished,  which  sum  shall 
be  refunded  when  the  tombstone  is  laid. 

d.  It  is  expected  that  a  suitable  tombstone  shall  be  placed  upon 
every  grave  within  six  months  after  interment.    All  tombstones 


19 


shall  be  recumbent,  of  white  marble,  and  their  size  shall  not  ex- 
ceed 20x24x4  inches  for  adults,  and  16x20x3  inches  for  children. 

8.  Members  who  for  a  considerable  time,  have  entirely  neg- 
lected the  ordinances  and  interests  of  the  Congregation,  and  with- 
out being  excused  by  the  Central  Board  of  Trustees,  have  neg- 
lected or  refused  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  Congregation, 
shall  be  regarded  by  the  Central  Board  of  Elders  as  having  with- 
drawn from  the  Congregation,  and  their  names  shall  be  omitted 
from  the  list  of  members,  and,  where  it  is  practicable,  they  shall 
be  notified  of  the  fact  through  the  Central  Board  of  Elders. 

9.  Members  who  have  been  excluded  shall  be  duly  notified, 
and  shall,  in  all  cases,  have  the  right  to  appeal  to  the  Provincial 
Elders'  Conference. 

10.  Members  desiring  a  letter  of  dismissal  to  another  denom- 
ination, shall  make  application  therefor,  either  in  person  or  by 
letter,  to  the  Pastor  or  Board  of  Elders  of  the  Church  to  which 
they  belong,  and  the  said  Board  of  Elders  shall  transmit  the  ap- 
plication, with  such  recommendation  as  they  see  fit  to  make,  to 
the  Central  Board  of  Elders  for  final  decision. 

11.  All  Rules  and  Regulations  in  conflict  with  these  Rules  and 
Regulations  are  hereby  repealed,  except  as  to  the  unexpired 
terms  of  the  members  on  the  Central  Board  of  Elders,  the  Central 
Board  of  Trustees  and  the  School  Board.  All  members  on  these 
Boards  are  eligible  to  election  for  two  consecutive  terms  after  the 
termination  of  their  present  terms  of  office. 

12.  These  Rules  and  Regulations  may  be  altered,  amended  or 
added  to  at  any  time  by  a  majority  of  two-thirds  of  all  the  votes 
cast  in  the  Congregation  Council,  provided,  the  vote  on  such  al- 
terations, amendments,  or  additions  is  not  taken  in  the  same 
meeting  in  which  they  were  introduced,  but  at  some  subsequent 
meeting  of  the  Congregation  Council  expressly  convened  for  that 
purpose;  and,  provided  further,  that  all  such  proposed  alterations 
and  amendments  have  obtained  the  sanction  of  the  Provincial  El- 
ders' Conference. 


